Hundreds of Oregon federal workers must repay the unemployment benefits they received during the 16-day shutdown, officials have ruled, reversing an earlier decision that let workers pocket the checks plus backpay.

The state paid out $839,000 to more than 1,800 federal workers who filed for benefits during the shutdown.

Oregon law initially allowed furloughed workers to keep those checks even Congress eventually provided for the back wages. The clause set Oregon apart from most states and gained national attention.

Now many of those employees must repay the money. The federal Department of Labor ruled on Thursday that workers should be counted as "employed" during the shutdown, meaning they weren't eligible for benefits. It's unclear how many other states were affected by the decision.

Tom Fuller, the agency's spokesman, said the department is still sorting out which workers must repay the state. Some did in fact lose their jobs when seasonal work came to an end. Those workers won't have to pay the benefits back.

The agency plans to send letters to the employees explaining how the repayment process will work.

--Molly Young

This is a developing story. Please return to Oregon Live's Oregon & the Economy blog later today for more.